Dear colleagues,
In my message a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the establishment of an agreement between the University and Strath Union which would see both organisations work together on a set of important strategic matters.
Building upon the current Student Partnership Agreement, both organisations have agreed on a new three-year Strategic Alliance that reflects the ambition and intention to work more closely together on the strategic elements that are common to both Strath Union and the University.
The formalisation of this new collaboration will strengthen our relationship for the mutual benefit of the entire Strathclyde community to ensure a world-class student experience that is fully accessible to all, and which reflects the changing needs, wants and desires of an ever-evolving student body.
There are nine objectives under this Alliance:
- Ensuring the student voice and representation is at the heart of our work
- Empowering our Student Advice and Support Services
- Development and continuous improvement of an outstanding student experience
- Incorporating emerging technologies into our teaching and wider student experience
- Ensuring a safe and accessible campus
- Maintaining our sector-leading graduate outcomes
- Taking a collaborative approach towards sharing of information
- To reflect on and take pride in our practices and celebrate our achievements
- To put sustainability at the heart of our offering
Each objective will have annual key deliverables and, in the academic year 2022/23, this will include exploring opportunities to: increase Hardship Funding to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis; undertake a housing needs and impact assessment, to ensure a housing and residences strategy that is future proof; and, continuing to focus on green investment through the development of an Ethical Investment Policy.
This new Alliance will report directly to the University Executive and Strath Union Student Executive at least once per semester and will be reviewed annually when the Student Executive changes over. By doing so, we will ensure our students play a central role in shaping and enhancing their learning experience and the decision-making at Strathclyde.
Last week, the University held its annual Court Stakeholder Meeting where members of the public can find out more about how the University operates. As part of a sectoral commitment to openness and transparency, all universities conduct a ‘Town Hall’ meeting where anyone interested in the operation and activities of an institution can find out more.
Held on Zoom, there was a very healthy attendance, and I had the pleasure of updating participants on the significant progress the University has made in the past 12 months and over the period to date of our Vision 2025 plan. I was also joined by our Court Convenor and Vice Convenor and members of our Executive Team who contributed to the discussions.
As some of you will know, our Associate Principal (International Partnerships) Professor Atilla Incecik will come to the end of the term of this Exec Team role at the end of this year. Atilla has held a range of senior roles since joining the University in 2007, including: Head of Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME), Deputy Associate Principal, and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
An enormously well respected academic, Atilla is returning to NAOME to continue his work in theoretical and experimental marine hydro dynamics. I am sure you will join me in thanking Atilla for all of his significant contributions to Strathclyde in his leadership roles and wish him well in his ongoing work back in the Department.
Finally, if you haven’t done so already, please do take the time to complete the pulse survey, run with our independent survey provider Medallia, which is seeking your views on our current working arrangements. You should have received an email with a link to the survey – if not please contact humanresources@strath.ac.uk.
The survey is your opportunity to share your thoughts and experience of our agile and/or hybrid working, built around our expectation of being on campus three days per week.
Your input is highly-valued and supports the University’s understanding of and decision-making around our working practices.
Enjoy the rest of the week and have a good weekend when it comes.
Best wishes,
Jim